3 Nigerian Foods You Have To Try

20 April 2016

Nigerian food is a delicious mix of meat, maize and spices. Many Nigerians believe that food is how you show love for your family, which is why people often prefer to cook for their guests rather than dine out.

Nigerian food differs from region to region depending on what the good crops of the area are, and what religion is most popular in that area, but there are some recipes that are favourites nationwide – and they happen to be easy to make, with a few simple ingredients.

Everyone from Nigella Lawson to Jamie Oliver has their own recipe for Jollof Rice. This dish is sure to impress even the pickiest of guests. Made with rice, onions, tomatoes, peppers, spices and your choice of meat– it’s easy to make, and even better to taste. The trick to this dish is making sure you par-boil the rice before throwing it in the pan.

Our suggestion: Jollof rice is traditionally cooked over a fire in a cast iron pot, this means you can add some South African flare by cooking this Nigerian classic in a potjie.

Egusi soup is a lumpy soup beloved in Nigeria. It is made from egusi (melon seeds), dried fish and stewed meat, and served with garri – Nigeria’s second most popular food. Garri is similar to pap, but it is made from cassava rather than maize. The trick to making the best egusi soup? Make it as rich as possible.

Our suggestion: Take your guests with you when you go to the market to buy the ingredients, our markets are a wonderful destination to show tourists looking to experience local culture.

Yam pottage is a traditional Nigerian recipe, and very easy to make. Yams are what Nigerians call sweet potato, which are normally affordable at our local super markets. Yam pottage basically consists of mashed sweet potato with dried fish and spices, and then you can add whatever sauce (normally tomato based), or meat you prefer.

Our suggestion: Yam pottage with chakalaka is a must, the sweetness of the potatoes compliments chakalaka perfectly. This dish is also a great way to use up old sweet potatoes, as older sweet potatoes tend to be sweeter.